New Poll: Most Americans Consider War on Drugs a Failure and Support Legalization of Marijuana

 A recent Angus Reid Public Opinion poll found that, of a sample of 1,0003 American adults, 55 percent of respondents support the legalization of marijuana, though the majority do not support the legalization of other drugs, like cocaine or heroin.

However, in a move towards removing the stigma of drug users and addicts, 64 percent of respondents believe our country has a serious drug problem that affects the United States, and only 20 percent consider drugs a problem that effect only certain people or areas. Suggestive of a widespread belief in an un-treated problem, only 5 percent of respondents said America does not have a drug problem, and 67 percent of respondents call the war on drugs a failure. On an ironically positive note, only 9 percent of respondents consider the war on drugs a success. Is this a step in the right direction? According to Angus Reid,

"The survey shows a country that is concerned about the effects of drugs, and at the same time deeply disappointed with the efforts of the U.S. government to deal with the drug trade."

Forty years after the failed war on drugs kicked off and  cost our country a wasted $50 billion, could harm reduction and a sensible drug policy finally be in our country's future?